Car clamp and mechanism for operating the same



M y 1958 H. R. STRAIGHT ET AL 2,834,486

CAR CLAMP AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAME Filed March 25, 1955United States Patent CAR CLAMP AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAMEHalver R. Straight, Adel, and Cyrus J. Bristol, Des Moines, Iowa; ValleyBank and Trust Company, Des Moines, Iowa, executor of said Straight,deceased; assignors to Straight Engineering Company, Adel, Iowa, atcorporation of Iowa Application March 23, 1955, Serial No. 496,266

6- Claims. (Cl. 21455) This invention relates to that type of cardumpers in which the dumper employs a tiltable cradle for supporting thecar to be emptied wherein the car may first be tilted transversely andthen rocked longitudinally in the performance of its dumping operations,the car being centered longitudinally and locked in said centeredposition by means of movable clamp supports, and more particularly tothat type in which the cradle and car are tilted transversely to anamount greater than 15 to the hori zontal and less than the amountrequired to'cause the car to be turned over by gravity.

The object of our invention is to provide improved means for holdingdown or locking the car against becoming accidentally over-balancedwhile in its transverse tilted position for any unusual reason, such asa very strong Wind or too rapid acceleration of the transverse tiltingmovement, wherein the car may be tilted to substantially an angle of 20.

A further object of our invention is to provide holddown means of thetype above described and adapted to be applied to the top of the carcoupler; improved means for automatically applying a predeterminedamount of yieldable pressure to said coupler by movement of the clampelements toward the coupler wherein a comparatively uniform amount ofpressure may be automatically applied to the coupler regardless of thevariations in the heights of couplers in cars of diiferent makes.

A further object of our invention is to provide in a car dumper of thetype above described; improved means for centering and locking the caragainst longitudinal movement of the said cradle.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated andattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a segmental side elevation of a dumper cradle and the lowerportion of a box car supported thereon, showing the manner that ourimproved device is mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of our. improved clamp device.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4 as applied to the clamp truck. K

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of a shge and chainassembly in the device of this invention; an

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing we have used the reference numeral 10to indicate the cradle of a car dump er, the mechanism for impartinglongitudinal rocking movement and transverse tilting movement being notillustrated and described as they form no part of the pres entinvention. The numeral 11 indicates a box car mounted on rails 12, thecar being movably mounted thereon to be moved onto and from said cradlewhile in its normal horizontal position. on its tracks while in itsrocked and inclined positions, we have provided the following mechanism.In each end of the cradle 10 we have provided track-ways 13 forsupporting a clamp supporting truck 14 comprising a horizontal frame 16including an inner axle 17 and an outer axle 18, said axles supportingguide wheels 19 mounted to travel on the tracks 13 while clamping thecar 10 and adapted to be moved into a pit 21 adjacent to each end of thecradle when the trucks 14 are not in use.

The outer end of the frame 14 is provided with an upright clamp support22 comprising a pair of spaced channels 23 having their lower ends fixedto the outer ends of the frame members 16 and above the outer axle 18. Aguide and spacer head 24 is mounted between and near the upper end-s ofthe channels 22, said head having inwardly and diverging flanges 26 forreceiving between them the coupler knuckle 27 for guiding the couplertransversely as the head is moved toward the coupler with the end of theknuckle against said head. The upper end of said channels 22 are alsoprovided with laterally projecting flanges 28 having notches 29. Theupper ends of the channel each having a vertical slot 31 for receiving ahorizontal pressure bar 32 having its ends extending beyond the sides ofsaid channels, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Each end of said bar-ssupporting a pressure head 33 mounted on the upper end of a pressure rod34, said rods being mounted in the slots 29 and depending therefrom withthe heads 33 resting on the flanges 28. Mounted on each of the rods 34is a compressive spring 36. Nuts 37 are provided on the lower ends ofsaid rods for adjusting the pressure of said springs and the holddownpressure applied to said heads 33. Mounted on the central portion ofsaid 'bar 32 is one end of a link 38 said link being normally inclineddownwardly and inwardly as viewed in Fig. 3, a spring 39 being providedfor maintaining the link in said inclined position against a stop rod40. Pivotally connected to and depending therefrom is contact bar 41having formed on its upper end an inwardly extending contact fi-ange 42its under surface being adapted to engage the upper surface of thecoupler knuckle 27 while the upper end of the inner face of the bar 41is adapted to engage the end of said knuckle as the clamp supports aremoved toward the ends of the cars. The under face of the flange 42 isnormally supported slightly above the top surface of the highestcouplers operated in the railway system whereby downward pressure may beapplied to couplers of various heights. As the clamp supports are movedinwardly the contact face 43 of the bar 41 will engage the outer end ofthe knuckle 27 continued inward pressure first causing the lower end ofthe bar 41 to swing outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 6 with the lowerend of said bar 41 engaging the plate, further inward movement of theclamp support will cause the inner end of the link 38 to swingdownwardly and outwardly, first moving the member 42 to position againstthe upper surface of the knuckle 27. As inward pressure further isapplied to the clamp supports, upward pressure will be applied to thepressure bar 32 and to the springs 36 and in turn downward pressure tothe flange 42 as the bar 41 is moved to the dotted line position in Fig.6. Thereby applying a comparatively uniform and predetermined downwardpressure. to the top face of the coupler knuckle, by providing alongspring 36 compared to the amount of variation in the heights of thecar couplers we have provided means whereby a quiet uniform Forcentering and locking the car predetermined downward pressure may beapplied to the coupler, the total amount of downward pressure being lessthan the safe breaking load of the coupler.

The mechanism for moving the clamp supports to and from each other willnow be described.

We have provided near the longitudinal center of the cradle a. pair oftransversly arranged plates 46. supporting at their centers alongitudinally arranged I-beam. 47 having slidably mounted on each ofits top and lower flanges a chain supporting shoe 49 said shoe, havinglugs. 51 to which the ends of multiple roller chains, 52 are attached.Said chains being mounted on sprockets 53, said sprockets being mountedon, transverse shafts 5,4 and 55. and when so mounted forming acontinuous chain having a shoe 49 in each. of its upper and lower runs,as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. Each of the runsbeing longer than themaximum movement of the carriage 14 from position within the pit 21 toits limit of movement required to center the shortest car employed: forthe movement of material to be dumped. 7

Each of the shoes 49 is provided with a transverse shaft 56,, pivotallyconnected to. each of the shafts. 56 is one end of links 57 the otherend ofsaid. links 57 being connected to the inner axle 17 of the.carriage 14 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. By this arrangement it willbe seen that if the chain 52 is rotated in a clock-wise direction thecarriages will be simultaneously moved into the pits 21, rotating thechains in the opposite direction will move the carriages inwardly tocenter the car. Suitable gear mechanism 58 is applied to the shaft 55for rotating said shaft in either direction by means of a reversiblemotor 59, a magnetic brake device 61, being provided to lock themechanism after the current has been switched off by the switch notshown. The detail structure of the mechanism for imparting reversiblerotary movement to the shaft 55 we will not describe, as they form nopart in our invention in other than providing power for the operation ofsaid shaft.

We claim:

1. The combination of a car supporting cradle mounted to tiltlongitudinally and transversely of itself and adapted to support arailway box car having at each end a standard D type coupler, a clampsupport movably mounted on each end of said cradle to move toward andfrom said coupler, said clamp support including a pair of spaced uprightplates, having near their upper ends vertical slots and below said slotslaterally projecting and notched flanges, a horizontal pressure barslidably mounted in said slots, a spring supporting; rod having a headat its upper end pivotally mounted on each end of said pressure bar withthe heads resting on said notched flanges with the rods in said notches,a. helical spring supported on each rod with its upper end against theunder side of said flanges, adjusting nuts on the lower ends of saidrods, a horizontally inclined link having one end fixed to the centralportion of said pressure bar, means yieldably maintaining said link inan inclined position relative to the horizontal, said link being mountedfor swinging movement downwardly from said inclined position to avertical position, a vertical and elongated contact bar having its upperend pivotally connected to the lower end of said link and dependingtherefrom, having at one side a contact face and at its upper end alaterally projecting contact flange adapted to engage the free end andthe upper face of said coupler respectively, the upper contact facebeing normally supported above the level of the top of the coupler andadapted to be lowered to engage the top of the coupler as the free endof the coupler is engaged by the vertical contact face of the contactbar by movement of the clamp support toward the coupler.

2. The combination of a car supporting cradle mounted to tiltlongitudinally and transversely of itself and adapted to support arailway box car having at each end a standard D type coupler, a clampsupport movably mounted on each end of said cradle to move toward andfrom said coupler, including a pair of spaced upright plates, a couplercentering head mounted therebetween, a pressure bar vertically andslidably mounted in the upper ends of said upright plates, yieldablemeans maintaining said pressure bar at its lower position of movement, ahorizontally inclined link having one end secured to said pressure bar,yieldable means maintaining said link in an inclined position relativeto the horizontal, said link being mounted for swinging movementdownwardly from said inclined position to a vertical position, avertical and elongated contact bar having its upper end pivotallyconnected to the lower end of said link and depending therefrom havingat one side a contact face and at its upper end a laterally projectingcontact flange, adapted to engage the free end and the upper face ofsaid coupler respectively, the upper contact face being normallysupported above the level of the top of the coupler and adapted to belowered. to engage the vertical contact face of said contact bar bymovement of the clamp support toward the coupler.

3. The combination of a car supporting cradle mounted to tiltlongitudinally and transversely of itself and adapted to support arailway box car having at each end a standard D type coupler, aclampsupport movably mounted on each end of said cradle to move toward andfrom said coupler, including apair of spaced upright plates, a couplercentering head mounted therebetween, including a pair of divergingflanges, a pressure bar vertically and slidably mounted in the upperends of said uprightplates, yieldable means maintaining said pressurebar at its lower position, of movement, a horizontally inclined linkhaving one end secured to said pressure bar, yieldable means maintainingsaid link in an inclined position relative to the horizontal, said linkbeing mounted for swinging movement downwardly from said inclinedposition to a vertical position, a vertical and elongated contact barhaving its upper end pivotally connected to the lower end of said linkand depending therefrom and between said diverging flanges and having atone side a contact face and at its upper end a laterally projectingcontact flange, adapted to engage the free end and the upper face ofsaid coupler respectively, the upper contact face being normallysupported above the level of the top of the coupler and adapted to belowered to engage the vertical contact face of said contact bar bymovement of the clamp support toward the coupler.

4. The combination of a car supporting cradle mounted to tiltlongitudinally and transversely of itself and adapted to support arailway box car having at each end a standard D-type coupler, a clampsupport movably mounted on each end of said cradle to move toward andfrom said couplers, means for moving said clamp supports comprising, anendless chain mounted longitudinally and centrally of said cradle andsupported by sprockets mounted on axles transverse of said cradle, alink pivotally connected to the inner end of each of said clampsupports, each of said links having its inner end extended to saidchain, means pivotally connecting the inner end of one link to the upperrun of said chain, and the inner end of the other link to the lowerrunof said chain, power means for imparting reversible power to rotatesaid sprockets, a coupler engaging member for each clamp support. havingportions for engaging the top end of a coupler with the top engagingportion normally above the level of the top surface of the coupler,pressure applying means actuated by the movement of the clamp supporttowards its corresponding coupler, for first lowering the couplerengaging mcmber in contact with the coupler, and upon further inwardmovement of the clamp supports causing a predetermined downward pressureto be applied to the coupler for stabilizing the car against tippingwhile in its transverse tilted position.

5. The combination of a car supporting cradle mounted to tiltlongitudinally and transversely of itself and adapted to support arailway box car having at each end a standard D-type coupler, a clampsupport movably mounted on each end of said cradle to move toward andfrom said couplers, means for moving said clamp supports comprising, anendless chain mounted longitudinally and centrally of said cradle andsupported by sprockets mounted on axles transverse of said cradle, alink pivotally connected to the inner end of each of said clampsupports, each of said links having its inner end extended to saidchain, means pivotally connecting the inner end of one link to the upperrun of said chain, and the inner end of the other link to the lower runof said chain, power means for imparting reversible power to rotate saidsprockets, a yieldable means for applying pressure to said car couplerscomprising a pressure bar mounted on said clamp support forsubstantially vertical movement relative thereto, yieldable meansmaintaining said pressure bar at its lower position of movement, ahorizontally inclined link having one end secured to said pressure bar,yieldable means maintaining said link in an inclined position relativeto the horizontal, said link being mounted for swinging movementdownwardly from said inclined position to a vertical position, avertical and elongated contact bar having its upper end pivotallyconnected to the lower end of said link and depending therefrom havingat one side a contact face and at its upper end a laterally projectingcontact flange, adapted to engage the free end and the upper face ofsaid coupler respectively, the

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6 upper contact face being normally supported above the level of the topof the coupler and adapted to be lowered to engage the vertical contactface of said contact bar by movement of the clamp support toward thecoupler.

6. In car dumping apparatus which includes a supporting cradle for arailway box car having a coupler at each end, means on said cradle forclamping said car on a cradle against longitudinal movement, said meanscomprising a clamp support arranged at each end of the car for movementtoward and away from the car in a directicn longitudinally thereof, acoupler engaging member movably mounted on each clamp support foryieldable movement between a pair of horizontally spaced positions, saidengaging members each having a substantially horizontal flange normallydisposed above said couplers, with the coupler engaging member beingmounted for up and down swinging movement on yieldable horizontalmovement thereof for engaging said flange with said coupler on thedownward swinging movement of said engaging member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,253,068 McMyler Jan. 8, 1918 1,266,474 Hunt May 14, 1918 1,500,673Cowie July 8, 1924 2,451,943 Gunning Oct. 19, 1948

